Combined soap and massage articles



, July 2, 1935. D." H. BOTTRILL COMBINED SOAP AND MASSAGE ARTICLES Filed March 7, 1934 Enventor D amidmEfiobbz/LUL (Ittornegs Patented July 2, 1935 v UNITED STATES 2,007,107 COIVLBINED SOAP AND MASSAGE ARTICLES David Hugh Bottrill, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Application March 7, 1934, Serial Name:

4 Claims. (01. 128-65) This inventionrelates to soap articles, and

more particularly to a combined soap cake and.

massage member. The main object of the invention is to provide a soap cake with a massage member of waterproof characteristics embedded therein and'having integral massage fingers extending from the face of the cake so as to exercise a massaging action when the soap is brought into contact with the skin, or scalp.

Another object is to provide a combined article of this character which offers the advantage of simplicity of manufacture, freedom fromwaterlogging, and permanence of union between the parts.

Stillanother object is to provide a combined soap cake and massage member in which the latter is effective not only until the soap is substantially dissolved, but actually prolongs the 20, life and usefulness of the cake by preventing its disintegration. Other objects will appear from the accompanying description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l, is a plan view of a combined soapcake and massage member embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of. the article shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a view showing one manner in which the article may be used; and

Fig. 4 isa view showing a modified form of the invention in which the massage memberis provided with an integral suspension tab.

In Fig. 1, the reference character 8 designates a soap cake, here shown as of hexagonal contour, having embedded therein a one-piece insert or massage member. This member com-,. prises a thin flat perforated body ll, of rubberlike material, that is, rubber, either natural or.

: synthetic, or material having the characteristics of rubber. The mostimportantof'these characteristics for this use are flexibility and freedom from absorption of or solubility in water.

As here shown, the body H is hexagonal, and contains a looking or bonding perforation l2 through which the soap may bond together the parts of the cake on either side of the body without dependence upon adhesion between the soap and. the body. Formed integrally with this body are spaced massage fingers is projecting from both fiat faces of the body. These fingers are each preferably of a length slightly in excess ofv one-half of the thickness of the cake in which the insert is embedded, hence they project be-- yond the surface of the cake. The fingers may be spaced as convenience dictates. As shown they are spaced by a distance substantially equal to the length of one of the fingers and this arrangement has proved to be satisfactory in practice. It is to be understood that the usefulness of the invention is not depedent upon the particular configuration of the soap cake, since this may assume any ordinary or ornamental form. Furthermore, while the body of the insert is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to be of hexagonal contour, it may assume, in practice, some other form which isJin harmony with the form of the particular cake in which it is embedded, The number of bonding perforations may like-- wise be varied in accordance with the bonding action desired; The invention is applicable to use with either cast or milled soap. When used in cast soap, the insert will preferably be placed in the mold before the fluent soap is poured into it. If the insert is to be used with milled soap, the cake may be formed in two parts each containing perforations to receive the massage fingers. After the insert is in position, these parts are brought together in such a way as to unite the marginal portions of the parts around the body II, and to cause the soap to fill the perforation I2 and produce a bonding action between the parts of the cake. This will secure the partstogether independently of adhesion between the soap and the insert. This bonding action is important as it insures maintenance of the union of the soap and insert until the soap substan-' tially dissolves or wears away. It will be noted that the massage fingers are of substantially cone-shaped configuration, with the larger portion of the cone at thejunction between each finger and the body. Such a constructionas this facilitates drainage'of anymoisture which may penetrate to the interior of the cake and thus destroys all tendency to' ward waterlogging of the cake. This particular configuration not only strengthens the union between the fingers and the body of the insert, but it is likewise most suitable to the massaging function desired.

The drawing shows the article in the form in which it is originally manufactured and before the soap is used. The soap may be used for massaging the skin or scalp and the fingers may be made so soft and flexible as not to harm the most delicate and sensitive skin. In using the article as illustrated in Fig. 3, the

PATENT, OFFICE user grasps the cake in one hand with the projecting massage fingers I3 engaging the portion of the body to be cleansed and massaged. The cake is then moved to and fro with a smooth, gentle motion. The fingers l3 flex exercise a gentle massaging and stimulating action which tends to remove dead cells of the epithelium, thus opening up the pores, stimulating circulation, and enhancing the natural functions of the skin. As the article is used, the soap dissolves and the fingers become more exposed. The massaging action becomes more pronounced as the cake wears away, but the presence of the insert tends to preserve the soap from rapid destruction, 'so that the combined article shown will have alonger life than the cake would have without the insert. When the soap is dissolved so as to separate from the insert, the insert may be thrown away, since it is very inexpensive and adds but little to the cost of the original article.

The article shown in Figs. 1 and 2 may be placed in a soap dish or other container in the usual manner. It may, however, be found preferable to provide the body of the insert with an integral suspension tab, and such a construction is shown in Fig. 4.

Referring to Fig. 4, the reference character l4 designates a soap cake, here shown as of circular configuration, having embedded therein an insert comprising a disc-like. body I 5 with integral massage fingers l6 projecting from both faces thereof as in Fig. 2. .The body I5 is shown as containing va plurality of perforations l9 to facilitate the looking or bonding action between the two halves of the cake on opposite sides of the body l5. Formed integrally with, and projecting from one edge of the bodyizl5, is a narrow suspension tab: l1, perforatedat Hi. This tab projects from the surface of the cake l4 and may be used as a means, for hanging the cake up to permit it to drain after use. The tab need project only slightly. and will not interfere in any way with the normal use of the article as described above. The manner of making and using the form of insert shown in Fig. 4 is similar in all respects to that of the form shown in Figs. 1 and 2. 7

While a suspension tab, as illustrated in Fig. 4, may be convenient, the. article may be used as an ordinary cake of soap, since the projecting fingers will support the cake'and hold it in spacedrelation to its supportingsurface to facilitate drainage. Furthermore these projecting fingers afford a means of obtaining a firm grip upon the slippery surface of the cakein use.

It will be understood that the size and character of the massage fingers l3 may be varied within reasonable limits inaccordance with the type of massaging action. desired. Also, the character of the soap cake may be varied within wide limits, in accordance with the use to which the soap is to be put.

While it is known in the prior art that a soap cake may be provided with a brush-like insert, as for example, in Patent No. 816,002, granted March 27, 1906, it is believed to be novel to provide such an insert in the form of a single onepiece moisture resistant member of rubber or having the characteristics of rubber and molded or formed with integral massage fingers. This novel way of combining a soap and a massage article not only avoids the difficulties and expense of assembly which were incident to devices of this character known in the prior art, but it avoids all tendencies to waterlogging, deterioration of the insert, or separation of the soap and insert before the soap is substantially dissolved.

Although only two forms of soap and massage articles have been disclosed, it will be obvious that various changes may be made in the details of construction within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:--

1. A combined soap and massage article comprising a soap cake having embedded therein a one-piece molded rubber insert, said insert comprising a body portion and spaced integral massage fingers projecting from the body portion and from the surface of the soap, said fingers being of substantially conical form to facilitate drainage of moisture from the cake, and spaced from each other by a distance substantially equal to the length of one of the fingers.

2. A combined soap and massage article comprising a soap cake having embedded therein a one-piece rubber insert, comprising a body portion and spaced massage fingers integral with and projecting from the body portion and from the surface of the cake, said fingers being of substantially conical form and substantially spaced apart to facilitate the drainage of moisture from the cake.

3. A combined soap and massage article comprising a soap cake having a one-piece rubber insert embedded therein, said insert having integral massage fingers projecting from the surface of the cake in spaced relation, and being of substantially conical form to facilitate the drainage of moisture from the cake; and a suspension tab formed integral with the insert and also projecting from the surface of the cake.

4. A combined soap and massage article comprising a soap cake having embedded and anchored in it a one-piece rubber massage member made up of a relatively thin and extended body portion, and a plurality of flexible massagingfingers extending through the soap and projecting from the surface of the cake, said fingers being spaced apart from one another to facilitate drainage of moisture from the cake and preventing waterlogging of the same.

DAVID HUGH BOTIRILL. 

